Clarkson Tries Again to Get His Season Going

SUNRISE--Randy Carlyle said it's a "coach's decision" whether David Clarkson goes back into the Maple Leaf lineup tonight.

Clarkson disagrees. Or at least let the cat out of the bag.

"I'm definitely excited to get back in tonight," he said this morning at the team's pre-game skate.

Clarkson, who has only been available for 36 games this season and has just three goals to show for his efforts, said he hopes to hit the proverbial re-set button. Again.

"I'm hoping. I've had a chance to hit that button a few times," he said. "I'm somebody who tries to stay positive. It's been a lot of little injuries this year. I haven't been healthy too much at all. But at the end of the day everybody goes through it. It's how you come out at the end and I'm looking forward to finishing strong here.

"In our careers as athletes you go through ups and downs. You've got to come out of it stronger. I've tried to handle this as best I can and now I've just got to go out there and play the game I love. I'm lucky enough to play the game of hockey."

Clarkson's latest obstacle has been a left elbow injury that has kept him out since Jan. 15th. His coach, meanwhile, traces all of Clarkson's difficulties in his first year as a Leaf after signing a massive seven-year free agent deal last summer to the 10-game suspension he received at the start of the season for jumping off the bench during a pre-season game while a fight was occurring.

Clarkson is expected to take Troy Bodie's spot alongside Jay McClement and Mason Raymond tonight against the Florida Panthers.

"We thought he was really starting to play well for us (before the elbow injury) and had found his role, and was involved more in the cycle and was doing a lot of good things," said Carlyle.

"We think he can make a huge contribution to our cause. We'll put him back in where he was before and see where that takes us.

"We want the player to get his feet underneath him before we start making great proclamations as to what he's going to do and where he's going to be at."

Clarkson acknowledged this has been mostly a miserable season for him.

"If you moved through life and everything was easy it would be very exciting or fun," he said. "This has been the toughest thing I've gone through in my career. I think with the foot things, the elbow, I've been suspended twice, then you're behind the eight-ball. I've never really had a chance to get set with any situation. So I look forward to that happening.

"I've just to do the same things that got me here, do the same things I was doing before the injury. Hopefully get some bounces, hopefully my luck will change and I'll be able to stay healthy. That's my plan. Finish strong and be a piece of the puzzle."

Winger James van Riemsdyk missed practice yesterday with the flu, but flew down today and is expected to play tonight. Centre David Bolland skated full-out again and there's an outside shot he could play Saturday at home against Vancouver.

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